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Seven Ways to Save with Electric Water Heaters

A Newlywed's Guide to Thrifty Home Water Heating

So you've just returned from the honeymoon of a lifetime, riding along the canals of Venice, tasting fine wine in France, or hang gliding over Rio de Janeiro. With all that romance, fun, and sun your life back home can quickly seem like a frightening, overwhelming mess!

And now that you have a little love nest of your own - whether it's a house, condominium, or mobile home - the task of being the frugal mistress or master of the castle stands before you. The honeymoon's literally over and reality takes its place.

So what's next? Apart from the rest of your life, your next mission is to begin saving money at home for future needs, wants, and desires to be met. You may want to save to become new parents, to raise that puppy, or for emergency situations such as unemployment.

Being a newlywed is a big enough task on its own, so why not let at least one part of your life be met with ease and security? A tankless electric water heater is a great place to start!

What are Electric Water Heaters?

Tankless electric water heaters are the new generation of machines intended to heat your home water system. You've surely seen old tank water heaters before - as those large, lumbering metal hulks hidden in the cupboard.

Well, tankless electric water heaters are the iPod equivalent to outdated Walkman-like electric water heaters with tanks. Tankless systems actually work, in many ways, similarly to traditional tank systems. The difference is in the technology, efficiency, size, and features - much like the example between mp3 players.

Basically, a heat exchanger raises the water's temperature by transferring thermal temperature from electric coils to the water passing through. There are two types of tankless electric water heaters:

Point-Of-Use Electric Water Heaters - where only 2 to 3 outlets are covered. These are much more convenient, compact, and affordable, thus are suggested for young couples. We will focus on these types of electric water heaters throughout the article.

Whole-House Electric Water Heaters - where every outlet in your home enjoys instant hot water. Recommended for large houses.

Seven Reasons to Invest

There are a number of reasons to choose a new tankless electric water heater for your home, but here are the top seven that we will dive into and explore:

Initial Savings - rebates and Energy Star approved.

No Lag Time - instant hot water.

Space Savings - fits underneath your bathroom cabinet.

Highly Efficient - avoids water loss due to lag time.

Very Eco-Friendly - saves green for the planet and your wallet.

Few Maintenance Needs - a simple design with few parts.

Superior Operational Life - outlasts many marriages!

1. Save with Federal Tax Rebates

First things first, can you get a tax credit for your next purchase? Yes! Many electric water heaters will come with a federal tax rebate of about $300. This money saved on tankless electric water heaters will go nicely in your savings account or towards those new drapes.

2. Save Time Waiting

Think of the many arguments you and your beloved can avoid by simply not having to fight over who gets to take a hot bath first and who gets to enjoy a cold shower after. Unlike tank water heaters that constantly have to heat and reheat stale, stagnant water, tankless electric water heaters provide unlimited amounts of hot water to baths, kitchens, and bathrooms. This means you'll never have to wait for water to heat after you've run the dishwasher or sparingly take turns when the in-laws visit.

3. Save Space

Moving into a new home and starting a new life requires that you begin the process of de-cluttering your life. Throw out those magazines, toss the faded jeans, and forget about your teen posters. Another way to clear the clutter? Out with the old tank gas or electric water heater. Since the units are smaller and lighter (many times portable in size) you can fit your electric water heaters under cabinets or simply wall mount them. For best results, place the tankless heater closer to the point of use (such as a bathroom wall).

By now you've noticed that tankless electric water heaters are much smaller, lighter, and less complicated than their predecessors. That old water heater closet? Transform it into your new shoe collection space or, if your must, a college trophy case.

4. Energy Efficiency Savings

In generally, tankless electric water heaters are more efficient than tank models. There is no stand-by heat loss since there is no holding tank. Only incoming water is heated on demand. Hot water is quickly delivered this way.

Plus, the technology used in these electric water heaters is state-of-the-art; they're built for heating water at a lower wattage consumption. While hot water is delivered in unlimited supply, that supply is limited to the number of usage points (i.e. household fixtures like kitchen sinks, showers, or basement wash tubs). For larger homes, you may opt for two electric water heaters to better distribution.

Many of these modernelectric water heatersare equipped with digital controls, LCD displays, and convenient remote controls. Up to four separate settings are available to choose from on many, so you enjoy efficiency in power consumption and design.

5. Save the Planet

As noted above, electric water heaters of today are highly energy efficient. Many times you can find tankless electric water heaters with Energy Star approval, or ones that come backed with a nice federal government rebate for a few hundred dollars.

These tankless water heaters also create less material waste since they're smaller in size and last longer. Unlike gas or propane water heaters, electric water heaters don't produce harmful greenhouse gases.

Overall, tankless electric water heaters are greener for the environment and your wallet! Saving money and tress are two things you and your spouse can certainly agree on.

6. Save on Repairs

Electric water heaters, unlike tankless gas water heaters, do not need expensive stainless steel tubing that are required for venting gas and propane units. In addition, gas units will require the expense of an annual servicing by a trained technician.

However, a gas water heater can benefit you if your home is large. If you live in a house larger than 2,000 square feet, a gas water heater can actually save money. This is because gas water heaters are more powerful than electric water heaters. Rather than set up multiple tankless electric water heaters throughout your home, a single gas water heater will often do the trick alone. With a larger house comes larger expenses in general, so the cost is justified.

The absence of a tank also means you will no longer have to worry about ruptured hot water flooding your home. In general electric water heaters are less of a headache to deal with. By going electric, you and your spouse can save time, plus money by avoiding unpleasant visits from Bob the repairman.

7. A Lifetime of Savings

Tankless units also last much longer than a tank heater. In fact, many electric water heaters without tanks have proven themselves to outlast tank units five to 10 years longer. If tankless electric water heaters are so new, how do we know this? Well, tankless water heaters have actually been the norm in much of Japan and Europe for decades, it's just taken the United States a little longer to catch onto this tankless technology.

Consider the lifetime savings of investing in tankless electric water heaters starting today over the course of your marriage. After all, about 20 percent of your home energy budget will go towards hot water heating. Yet, you can save up to 20 percent of your water heating bill by switching to a tankless model.

So, signify your undying love with tankless electric water heaters that will last a lifetime!